BBC Films, the film arm of the UK public broadcaster, has appointed Isabel Begg, formerly head of UK business and legal affairs at Miramax, as head of business and legal affairs.

Begg will report to Jane Wright, who has been promoted from head of business development to the new role of head of rights and commercial affairs. Begg, who has been at Miramax UK for the last seven and a half years, has responsibility for overseeing all deals at BBC Films.

Wright's enhanced role sees her managing BBC Films' commercial interests and raising co-production finance for feature films. She reports to Sara Geater, director of rights and business affairs for the BBC, and David Thompson, head of BBC Films.

Thompson said: "We have found Isabel to be a formidable adversary when she was working for the other side, so we are very keen to have her - all guns blazing - facing the other direction!"

The restructuring comes as BBC Films is gearing up to make larger budget films next year such as Me Again with Bruce Willis